NEWMARKET'S Guineas meeting not only brings us the first two Classic races of the season, it also heralds the return of the powerful Godolphin team, fresh from spending a winter away in sun-drenched Dubai, writes Colin Woods.

Just like most of us there's no doubt the warmth gives their horses a certain "feel-good factor", an advantage Moon Ballad (2.15) may well ram home in the Pearl And Coutts Listed race. Moon Ballad is not only a previous course winner, he is also fit from a couple outings on the dirt track at Nad Al Sheba, including a close-up fourth in the UAE Derby at the Dubai World Cup Meeting on March 23rd.

The same "firm" are represented by Kutub in the £80,000 Group 2 mile-and-a-half Sagitta Jockey Club Stakes, but I believe he may have his hands full trying to cope with recent Newbury scorer, Zindabad (2.50). Kutub had a magnificent 2001 campaign cleaning up a string of valuable races all around Europe, however Zindadad's form matches up punch-for-punch, notably his narrow defeat in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

In the following Showcase Handicap, Takes Tutu (3.25) gets one last chance to redeem his reputation.

His backers will have to dig deep if they are to keep faith with the three-year-old, who simply has not had the run of the race on either of his last two starts.

In particular at Sandown a week ago he missed the break and then found himself behind a wall of horses when turning for home. He did eventually find daylight, by which time the leaders had already flown. Up at Musselburgh the safest bet in the opener is Obe One (2.05), contesting the two-year-old Maiden Auction Stakes. Alan Berry's juvenile improved demonstrably at Ripon last time out having flopped on his debut at Newcastle.

Obe One has now been found a relatively weak affair in which he can hopefully open his account at the third time of asking. Sedgefield serve up some decent jumping action this evening and the advice is as ever to be on time in order to avoid traffic congestion.

After a winter of woe, Howard Johnson's stable has finally hit top gear and the out-and-out stayer, Young Tomo (6.30), should have the requisite stamina to grind down his rivals in the three-mile-three-furlong John Joyce Handicap Chase. In the later Baseball Jack Russell Novices' Handicap Hurdle In Extremis 11 (7.00) makes plenty of appeal.

George Moore's six-year-old ran an absolute cracker when second at Wetherby last time, form that stands up to the closest inspection.